Kentucky Power is proud to announce the results of the sixth annual Power Up the Pantry food drive. The event, held Sept. 25 in Ashland, Hazard and Pikeville, brought in 2,593 pounds of food and $26,186 in donations, including $25,000 in grants awarded to the food banks by the Kentucky Power Foundation, helping provide thousands of meals for families facing food insecurity.
Volunteers receive a donation at the Cannonsburg Walmart in Ashland.
Donations collected directly benefit God’s Pantry Food Bank, serving southeastern Kentucky, and Facing Hunger Food Bank, which supports pantries in the northeastern part of Kentucky Power’s service area.
Kentucky Power External Affairs Manager Ryan Lake reported that the event’s success was made possible by the invaluable support of community partners, such as local stores and schools.
“Power Up the Pantry participation is an important way we can all show up for our communities,” said Lake. “Hunger is a significant global challenge that impacts countless individuals and families. We are proud to take action that brings our communities together and offers support to those in need throughout our service area.”
“Power Up the Pantry participation is an important way we can all show up for our communities,” said Ryan Lake, external affairs manager at Kentucky Power. “Hunger is a significant global challenge that impacts countless individuals and families. We are proud to take action that brings our communities together and offers support to those in need throughout our service area.”
According to Bettina Hazlett, community relations officer for Facing Hunger Food Bank, the average food insecurity rate in Kentucky stands at 20 percent.
“Power Up the Pantry is a vital lifeline for Kentucky neighbors in need, enabling us to secure the resources necessary to support them,” Hazlett said. “We are grateful for this impactful partnership and its positive effects on our community. The generosity we witnessed during this event reflects the very best of eastern Kentucky.”
Since its launch in 2019, Power Up the Pantry has collected 28,593 pounds of food and more than $170,000 in donations, providing 1.5 million meals to help stock the shelves of regional food banks and provide relief to families struggling with hunger.
“We are committed to giving back and actively engaging in what matters to our customers,” Lake said. “This is why Kentucky Power plays an essential role in the communities we serve.”
The Kentucky Power Foundation, part of the American Electric Power Foundation, awards grants within communities served by Kentucky Power. The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its operating subsidiaries, including Kentucky Power. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives in communities served by AEP and initiatives outside AEP’s 11-state service area. As an independent, non-profit philanthropic organization, the Foundation is funded solely through shareholder dollars.
The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and civic vitality.
Kentucky Power, headquartered in Ashland, provides service to 162,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties and is an operating company in the American Electric Power system, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States.